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Ogando struggles as Rangers tie spring opener

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Rangers hold first spring game 2:23

Ron Washington, Derek Holland, Mitch Moreland and Mike Olt look back on the Rangers' first spring game and discuss what they're working on

By T.R. Sullivan

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- On a day when Alexi Ogando struggled, Yangervis Solarte saved the Rangers from a Cactus League-opening loss with a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth off of Blaine Boyer for a 5-5 tie with the Royals at Surprise Stadium on Friday.

Will Smith, a candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation, pitched two scoreless innings in his first start for the Royals while Derek Holland gave up a run on six hits in his three innings of work for the Rangers. But Ogando wasn't quite as sharp in 1 1/3 innings.

Ogando, who is being moved back to the rotation after a year in the bullpen, allowed three runs on two hits, two walks and a hit batter. He was trying to work on his changeup as well as pitching inside to hitters, but wasn't having much success.

"When you can't find the strike zone, bad things happen," Ogando said. "I was trying to work on both sides of the plate and work on my changeup, but it seemed like nothing was working. It wasn't typical like my bullpens and my live batting practices. Today nothing worked out."

Smith was sharp for the Royals, retiring six straight hitters. He had one strikeout, getting David Murphy swinging to end the first.

"I was amped up in the bullpen," Smith said. "I had some pitches up in the pen, but once I got out there, everything came back -- slowing it down, just having fun out there."

The Rangers didn't score until Nelson Cruz hit a two-run home run off of Yordano Ventura in the fourth.

Robbie Ross made his first appearance and pitched two scoreless innings. He is trying to win a job as the Rangers fifth starter after pitching in relief last season as a rookie.

Rangers up next: Craig Gentry will be in center field for the Rangers as they play the Royals in Surprise. Gentry is among the candidates to start in center field for the Rangers, and this is his first start of the spring. Randy Wells is scheduled to pitch for the Rangers at 2:05 p.m. CT.